70's Dutch Boy

5:00 PM is fine Rob...we'll be in front of the building at the door waiting for you. Thanks old guy!!

I'll see you 2 there on Saturday! I'm determined to see at least 1 drum corps show this year!! b**bs

I notice no one has replyed to this statement,"You have to keep it recognizable to those who pay $ to see shows...you know the fan base...or you lose the fans. Let's see them change a major sport or symphony in such a way so many times and see if they keep the fans and the activity alive."

I loved the tymp line and the sounds I could get from that drum....the cranks were great! When I was marching them they were heavy and one built up great back muscles carrying them. Spider tymp was always light to me as I was the one in the line carrying the largest one. I don't understand using orchastra tymps now, nor a drum line that doesn't use rudimental drumming, nor snares that don't sound like snares, nor not marching, nor colour guard that dance and dress in costumes, nor woodwinds, nor pits, nor amps, nor trumpets etc. etc. It no longer looks or feels or sounds like drum & bugle corps.

OK..."Reports of the death of drum corps - once again - are greatly exaggerated." Fine...blow a sax and call it drum corps. Put clarinets on the field and call it drum corps. Put all the woodwinds you want on the field and call it drum corps. Cripe put electric guitars on the field. How about some keyboards and maybe a synthisizer(sp)...wait...gotta keep up with the times you say...how about a turntable with a record so you can make rap/hip hop sounds. Wait a sec....with all these changes how can it be drum & bugle corps? How about drum & fife band? drum & all instrument band? a post high school marching band? But IT IS NOT DRUM & BUGLE CORPS!!!! Sue...vague memory. I unfortunately left drum corps in '77.

Maybe you do feel that deep in it's heart it's still drum corps but thousands and thousands don't. I know countless people that I used to MARCH with that haven't gone to a show since the late 80's because even then they said, "It's not Drum Corps anymore. I wanted to get back into it this summer after almost 2 decades of refusing to go to a show, now forget it! I have no recognition of what the activity is any longer. If marching bands are the new "style" forget it! It's dead in the water. You have to keep it recognizable to those who pay $ to see shows...you know the fan base...or you lose the fans. Let's see them change a major sport or symphony in such a way so many times and see if they keep the fans and the activity alive. Sorry folks but I too am now totally finished with what used to be the great joy in my life. Drum Corps. is dead. R.I.P.

I'm sorry if my opinion is seen as that of an old fart who resists the changing of the times. It is not how I view it. Drum Corps. has changed beyond recognition for many of us that marched in the earlier years of the activity. No other activity or sport could go through so much change that it is unrecognizable to previous participants or fans and continue to maintain the fan base that it needs to survive. Drum Corps has been deceasing since the latter 70's but has now totally died. If you want to imitate marching bands so deeply why don't you go and join them and let Drum & Bugle Corps. be what they are/were. Two different and unique activities, good unto themselves and their fans! R.I.P. Drum & Bugle Corps.

In no particular order: Etobicoke Oakland Crusaders Toronto Optimists Preston Scout House 27th Lancers Chatelaines De Lavelle Venturers Flying Dutchmen

At 1st for me it was the Cardinals of Precious Blood. Then it became the Flying Dutchmen (our parent corps). Go figure, eh. Then we amalgamated and became The Northstar. Sorry if this is politically incorrect for the NYO but history is history...and history it is!!!

What's up with the picnic? I would assume that it's for the alumni and present corps to get together and have a good time together. For us old folks it's partly to reunite after all these years. I know about it. I have no idea who would try to get a picnic to run...but I wish them all the luck in the world

With the Rookie of the Year Award, when three quarters of the corps were rookies, they had to bring out a large hat to get all the names in. Yours just happened to be the one they picked out!! I know, I was there!! :sshh: :sshh: Ahhh, ODBC, For over 30 years I felt that I deserved The Rookie of the Year Award...you just deflated an old guys ego. Now I have to question the other awards as well. :OT: ...but anyway...enuff about me...how about Those funny people in the corps.!!!!

Not too hot right now! And..."when you can have a cold beer at the Hofbrau Haus in Munich on a cool September evening during Oktoberfest with the whole corps!! "...who are all wearing lederhosen and dirndals(sp). b**bs

Ewww...look at that lederhosen jibe!! But...lederhosen and beer are such a combo!! Yes, I was a rookie and I think a good one. At least that was what the Rookie of the Year plaque says!! :P

Thanks for the welcome ODBC!! :) I'll get to know my way around here and hopefully have things to say and share! You may call yourself Old DBC...your choice...I'm still a rookie here...last time I was a rookie I was 12 y/o. LOL

Tom Byers and Doug Cornwall were exactly the ones I was going to choose ODBC!